SOME THINGS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER - 3
What Is The Christian Faith? What Name Do You Wear? The Servant Of The Lord. The Wonder Of Conversion.
WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN FAITH?
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17, KJV).
Loved ones, if you were called upon to define the ONE Christian faith (Ephesians 4:5), what would you say? Perhaps you would say it is the religion founded by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18). While this answer would be correct, it would not mean much to one unacquainted with Jesus and His teaching. The Christian faith in fact, is more than simply a system of beliefs — it is action.
James 1:27 reminds us that, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Religion, then, is something we do or practice, not something we get or merely believe. It is significant that Luke described the Gospel account that he had written as being, "All that Jesus began both to do and teach" (Acts 1:1).
Occasionally, we hear someone interpret or define the Christian faith as if it consists only of going to an assembly of the church. Questions are posed that lead to this conclusion: "Where were you on Thursday night?" "Did you study your Bible lesson?" "You missed the class Sunday morning!" Similar statements can be multiplied.
It is hoped that there has been no misunderstanding. These matters are important. Christians must not neglect worshipping together (Hebrews 10:25) and they need to study the Bible together. But there must not be a forgetting that the Christian faith involves what we do and practice Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and all day Saturday, as well as what we do on Sunday!
Remember the Good Samaritan. He ministered to the man who was robbed, beaten, and left half-dead by the side of the road. He wasn't at an assembly of the church at all! In fact, two highly religious people, the priest and the Levite, passed by this man, on the other side. If outward form and ritual become so important that we neglect the needs of people, then we are in a bad way. "But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13).
Jesus came to teach us how to live. This involves what we do at home, what we do at work, what we are in our thought world, and what we do with our leisure time. It involves our daily relations with people. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
How do you define the Christian faith? The best way is to simply put it into action. We are commanded to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God…” (Romans 12:1-2). If as Christians we would start being kind to the unknown, the less fortunate and lonely, we would be more like Jesus.
There was once a large billboard sign, which read: "No Less Precious" underneath the words was the picture of a mentally retarded child. Remember God loves all people. They may be poor, ugly, or unlovely, but they are "no less precious" in God's sight.
You can make someone happy today if you choose one of these persons and show special kindness to him. That would be one of the best definitions that could be made of the Christian faith—a demonstration or practice of it. "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). Let us learn to love like Jesus loves.
-------------------------------------
WHAT NAME DO YOU WEAR?
“26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds” (Acts 26:26-29, KJV).
Loved ones, it is often thoughtlessly said, "There is nothing in a name," but nobody really believes this. When next you hear that said statement, inform the person so saying that hereafter you will address him as the "Devil." Note how quickly bitter resentment rises. If there is nothing in a name, why is not the name "Devil" as good as any?
Various religious titles are used today, not one of which may be found in the Bible. Is it not strange that some people prefer to be called by some human name rather than the one found in God's Word? "The disciples were called CHRISTIANS first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26).
Those believers not only claimed to be Christians, they were called by that name. Peter, the apostle, wrote, "If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on His behalf" (1 Peter 4:16). Paul sought to make Agrippa a Christian, no more, no less (Acts 26:28). Should this not be enough for us today?
The name "Christian" is the divine name ordained by God that His people should wear. Isaiah, the prophet, wrote that a "new name" would be given to the Lord's people. It was to be given only after the Gentiles were invited to become partakers of salvation through Christ (Isaiah 62:2; 65:15). It could not have appeared before Acts 10, when the Gentiles were recognized as being heirs of salvation. Is it not significant that in the chapter immediately following —Acts 11:26—that the "new name" the name "Christian" was given?
No other name, however ancient, honorable, or distinguished can ever meet the demands of the inspired prophet. It pleased God to call His people Christians in the apostolic age, and that which pleased Him then must undoubtedly meet His approval today. Let it never be forgotten that we glorify God only when we wear the name "Christian," no more, no less. The church is the bride of Christ — she must wear the husband's name!
----------------------------------------
THE SERVANT OF THE LORD
“So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 34:5, KJV).
Loved ones, Moses is described as "the servant of the Lord,” yet he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. The people murmured against God when they arrived in Kadesh, and Moses asked the Almighty what to do in response to their complaints for water. God told him to take the rod, assemble the people, and SPEAK to a rock and it would bring forth water.
“10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them” (Numbers 20:7-12).
Moses had failed to sanctify God in his actions, thereby acting like an unbeliever. Moses rebuked the people and STRUCK the rock twice instead of speaking to it, even saying that he and Aaron were solely responsible for providing water for the people. His failure to follow God's exact direction caused the Lord to deny him entrance to the Promised Land.
Moses pleaded with God to let him enter to see the end of the work of deliverance: “23 And I besought the Lord at that time, saying, 24 O Lord God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? 25 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter” (Deuteronomy 3:23-26).
God did tell him to go up into Mount Pisgah, or Nebo, in the Abarim range to see the land the people would possess, and to charge Joshua with the job of leadership, and to encourage him in the work (vs. 27-28).
“So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 34:5). This literally means "by the mouth of the Lord," and the Jewish Rabbis say the meaning is "by the kiss of God." He went to sleep with the kiss of the loving Father in heaven.
“6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. 7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated” (vs. 6-7). God took his body and buried it in a place unknown to man. Moses led the people for forty years. At the time of his death at the age of 120, his physical strength had not left him, nor had his sight grown weak.
The lesson for us is powerful. I can be a "servant of the Lord," yet lose heaven for failing to obey His will. Thankfully, Moses also shows us we can repent and still go to sleep with the kiss of the Father.
-------------------------------------------
THE WONDER OF CONVERSION
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19, KJV).
Loved ones, man is the only being of God's creation that has a realization of sin and also remorse for his sin. He is the only being of God's creation that is aware of the mystery and wonder of his own spirit. He is the one being to whom the Holy Spirit can bear witness (Romans 8:16).
To be converted, then, is one of the great mysteries facing humanity, and at the same time it is the deepest reality that man knows. To turn from doubt to faith is to be converted.
Yes, we stand amazed at the possibilities of an hour of worship in the presence of our God. We stand amazed at the human spirit making decisions of acceptance of God and of things high and noble.
May we never lose the sense of wonder at the mystery of human life on this Earth. Each new day should bring us to an increasing awareness that this is God's world, that we belong to Him, and that we shall go at last into the eternal presence of God!
The God of Heaven and Earth is so good, and His love reaches all. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35). Samuel A. Matthews, preaching with the Liberty NW church of Christ, meeting in Portland, Oregon, USA – 4 August 2026.